U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded Specialist Thomas Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal after Iglesias reprimanded Hegseth and his party for laughing and talking at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The incident occurred on Wednesday and was captured on video that circulated widely on social media.
In the video, Iglesias is seen loudly instructing the group to maintain silence and respect while at the tomb, which is a solemn military monument honoring fallen U.S. service members. Hegseth later posted photos of the award presentation on his X account, commending Iglesias for his execution of duties.
The Incident at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The confrontation happened as Secretary Hegseth, accompanied by his wife and staffers, was laughing and taking photos on the steps in front of the tomb. Iglesias, assigned to guard the site, admonished them by stating, “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times!” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell praised Iglesias for addressing the issue “correctly and respectfully.”
Significance of the Award
The Joint Service Commendation Medal is one of the U.S. military’s top awards and is rarely bestowed on junior enlisted personnel like Specialist Iglesias. Hegseth emphasized the importance of standards and respect for soldiers in his announcement of the decoration.
About the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Located in Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C., the tomb is a revered military monument that holds the remains of unidentified U.S. soldiers from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. It also symbolizes missing service members from the Vietnam War. Since 1948, the site has been guarded 24/7 by members of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard.”
